Man charged with assaulting 10-year-old

July 4, 2013

MARTINSBURG - A Berkeley County man accused of banging a 10-year-old girl's head against a car and the ground several times was arrested Tuesday on misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and domestic assault.

Scott William Kelleher, 35, of Van Clevesville Road, Martinsburg, was being held at the Eastern Regional Jail on $6,000 bail after being arraigned on the charges Wednesday.

According to court records, on Tuesday police responded to a call reporting a domestic battery in progress at Kelleher's residence in Berkeley County.

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Scott William Kelleher.

When a deputy arrived at the scene, he he saw a crying child approach from a back hallway. Several more crying children also came out from the hallway followed by two adult women, records show.

One of the women told police that the children had been outside arguing and Kelleher told them to come inside. She said the alleged victim, a 10-year-old girl, was unable to do what Kelleher asked, because she had injured herself earlier. Kelleher allegedly became upset and grabbed the girl by the hair. When he let go of the girl's hair he allegedly fell on top of the juvenile, records show.

The caller told police that it appeared Kelleher "banged" the victim's head off the ground several times, but Kelleher denied that allegation. The caller told police she was at first able to get them separated, but the fight continued and Kelleher allegedly grabbed the girl by the hair again to try to get her up out of a chair, records show. The girl ran out to the garage and around a car, but couldn't go any further.

Kelleher allegedly grabbed her by the hair again and banged her head against the car several times. Police saw several hairs on the hood of the car. The alleged victim was able to verify that Kelleher made physical contact with her and said her head hurt from being struck, records show.